Apparatus for filling metal containers



J. F. WERDER April 23, 1935.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING METAL CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 28, 1931 Z 2. 1172-55i i :i 1 g; 1 :l 3 3 6 11 6 v" [N VEN TOR A TTORNE VS vided an enlargedscrew-threaded seat for engagement by the threaded end portion M of theconnecting member IE on the one end of the filling tube IS. The tubes I6may be more or less fiexible and are all connected at their other endsto the distributor I! which in turn communicates with the pipe is fromthe source of supply. The pressure gauge [9 may be inserted in suchsupply pipe line.

After the gas-charged lubricant is supplied through the connectionsabove described, to the plurality of containers mounted upon the rack orracks, it will be necessary to release a portion of the gas pressurefrom the containers so as to permit further admission of the liquid tothe same, which would otherwise be prevented by the gas pressure withinthe containers. This step of partially relieving the compression of gaswithin the containers is known as snifiing and for, this purpose, thereis provided the valve 20 which, when set in one position, affordscommunication directly through the pipe line 58 from the source ofsupply to the distributor H and thence to the containers. The valve 20may also be set in another position by means of the handle 2| so as toclose temporarily the supply of gas-charged liquid from the pipe line l8and to permit such release from the containers out through the tube is,.the distributor i1, and the discharge pipe 22.

j Upon completion of such snifiing, the valve 20 is returned to fillingposition to permit further charging of the containers from the source ofsupply. In this way, there may be stored within the containers a properdegree of free gas under desired pressure so as to insure properdischarge of the liquid from the container and with sufiicient gaspressure for completely emptying the same. It is to be understood thatallowance is to be made for the fact that during the discharge undersuch internal pressure, there will be liberation of the gas which willthen serve as free gas under increased pressure to assist in thecomplete discharge of the contents of the container. When the containershave been filled to the proper degree, the valves 1 will be closed so asto .which permits such discharge through the nozzle 6.

In the present form of apparatus in which tubes H: are all connected tothe same distributor l1, and are controlled by the same valve l9 duringthe-shilling process, these tubes are all of the same length regardlessof the position of the containers upon the rack, this provision beingfor the purpose of insuring the same degree of snifiing for allcontainers and the charging of all of them to the same degree. In thisway, there is insured a uniform filling of the containers and under thesame degree of internal pressure.

After the cans have been filled in the manner above described andremoved from the filling apparatus, they can be weighed uponconveniently located scales in order to verify the quantity ofthe'contents thereof before preparation for shipment.

Whereas it is ordinarily practically impossible to fill a metalcontainer with a liquid under pressure with any degree of certainty oruniformity as to quantity, because of the opaque nature of the metalbody, this is readily accomplished by the present method and apparatus.

Thus, I have devised a convenient and efiicient form of apparatus forsimultaneously charging a plurality of containers with a gas-chargedliquid under proper degree of pressure for completely emptying thecontents of the containers at the time of use. These containers areprovided with dependable filling connections during the fillingoperation and may readily be applied to and removed from the fillingapparatus.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for filling a. plurality of metal containers withgas-charged liquid, comprising means for supplying the gas-chargedliquid, means for attaching readily removable connecting means ofsubstantially the same length between said supply means and theindividual containers, means for indicating the pressure supplied to thecontainers, and a single means for relieving the interior of thecontainers from being gas-locked against further filling, whereby thecontainers may all be filled uniformly to the point desired.

2. Apparatus for filling a plurality, of metal containers withgas-charged liquid, comprising means for supplying the gas-chargedliquid, a stationary rack to which the containers are applied forsupporting the same in inverted'position; readily detachable individualconnecting means on the rack for establishing communication between saidsupply means and the containers while supported in inverted position,means for indicating the pressure supplied to the containers, and asingle means for controlling the admission of the gas-charged fluid tothe containers and for relieving the interior of the containers frombeing gas-locked against further filling, whereby the containers may allbe filled to the point desired.

3. Apparatus for filling a metal container with gas-charged liquid,comprising means for supplying the gas-charged liquid, a stationarysupport having a port therethrough for receiving the nozzle of acontainer at one end thereof and having communication at its other endwith said supply means, and unitary means for simultaneously supportingthe container and releasably clamping the nozzle of the container at twocircumferentially spaced points thereof for holding the same in fillingengagement with said port.

4. The combination of an apparatus for supplying gas-charged liquid, acontainer and means for connecting said container to said apparatus,said connecting means comprising a metal member on said supply means anda metal valve body member provided upon the container, said membershaving line contact with each other and at least one of them being ofsemi-soft metal,

means for connecting said container to said apparatus, a valve body onthe top end of the container and a tube extending therefrom to theinside bottom region of the container, said valve body being adapted toengage said support so as to support the container in inverted positionand to cooperate with said connecting means, and a valve-controlledmeans for relieving the pressure in the container out through said tubeduring the filling operation so as to permit filling of the liquid intothe container to the point desired.

6. Apparatus for filling a metal container with gas-charged liquid,comprising means for supplying the gas-charged liquid, a stationarysupport for the container in inverted position, and said support beingprovided with a readily detachable and laterally engaging connectingmeans between said supply means and a valve body on the one end of thecontainer, said connecting means having two-point engagement with saidvalve body, said valve body having a side port adapted for directmetal-to-metal communication with said supply means and a valve in saidvalve body for controlling the flow through said port, and the point ofengagement of the valve body with the supply means being equi-distantfrom the points of engagement between the connecting means and valvebody, whereby the container can be maintained in inverted positionduring the filling operation and said valve may be closed uponcompletion of the filling operation.

JOHN F. WERDER.

